Attempted Child Abduction In Larksville

Police in Luzerne County responded to an attempted child abduction in Larksville on Saturday night.

According to court papers, a six-year-old girl was approached by a man in a maroon Dodge Dakota around 6 p.m. along Carver Street.

The young girl told police that the man told her to get inside of his truck. The young girl said she ran away and he started to follow her.

Police said the child was able to get inside of the house, where she locked the door. Officials said she told her sister who then told her father what had happened.

Authorities said the father looked outside and saw the man sitting in his truck.

He was described as a male with tattoos all over, wearing sunglasses and a cap. He said the vehicle was parked outside of his house and it took off down Carver Street toward Washington Ave.

Police said the father was able to write down the suspects license plate.

The Luzerne County 911 center was able to confirm that the vehicle was registered to Elias Kocher of Center Avenue in Plymouth.

When police arrived at Kocher’s home they said he was highly intoxicated. Kocher allegedly told police that he had been home all day. He also said he had a daughter when they questioned him about being involved in an attempted child abduction.

Police said they took Kocher into custody.

Newswatch 16 went to Carver Street on Sunday. Neighbors said they were shocked to hear something like this happened in their quiet neighbhorhood.

“I think it’s absolutely terrible that someone would try and take a six-year-old little girl away from their family,” neighbor Mollie Redmond said.

Police in Larksville told Newswatch 16 that attempted abductions are rare, and they are fortunate that they were able to make an arrest within a few minutes.

“It’s more assuring knowing that the kids are safe and especially everyone else out in the town that their kids are safe and this guy is off the streets its a big deal,” Larksville police officer Joshua Evans said.